just to further confuse things.....

I usually try not to check bags if I have a connecting flight abroad...domestically I often check a bag even on a connecting flight because I'm in my home country, can speak the language and have never had a bag not be on the next flight...

However - going overseas on a connecting flight, I try very hard not to check a bag even if my connecting flight is the same airline and same flight # .
BECAUSE
I live in a major hub (SF) - if I am flying SFO-NYC-MAD (as I did a couple of summers ago) and something goes wrong with one of the flights AFTER I've checked in - - they have to pull the bags off the original flight and move them to the new flight. In this case, my original SFO-JFK flight was horribly delayed after I'd already checked in. Because I would have missed my JFK-MAD flight if I took the original domestic leg, they put me on a SFO-ORD-JFK flight that would put me in NY in enough time to make my MAD connection..which I did...but my bags didn't. I spent 3 days without them and part of the issue was that MAD has one office to handle all lost luggage from all airlines and they only speak spanish....

So - I try and book direct non stop flights overseas and if i can't I try to do carry on only. Coming home I take all my souvenirs/purchases as carry on and check everything else....

My son lost his luggage when he took a DIRECT flight Raleigh to Boston. We had a wedding in Cape Cod. Try to replace a good suit in Cape Cod (well, that’s another story).

The point is this was a direct flight and the bag was lost anyway. It took three weeks to get it back. They found it in Seattle.

I think the only thing you can do is try to prepare for any mishaps but if something like that happens, treat it as any other problem that can arise on vacation and move on. Heck, it’s my vacation, I am going to have fun.

Hi Simone, see that is what I mean. Our luggage gets to travel to places we don't even get a chance to visit, LOL.

Seriously though, that must have been very frustrating. And three weeks? The bag must have made a round the world trip.

Life sometimes teaches you a few things. My two sons had saved their money to buy good suits. It was their cousin’s wedding. They arrived Friday night to attend the wedding the next afternoon. We ran around in Vineyard Haven looking for good suits. We finally gave up and decided to shell out money for suits that they would rarely wear.

On the way to the store we passed a thrift store. I told my sons we should try there just in case. Of course, they wouldn’t hear of it. I dragged them into the store, I think they followed me just to make me feel better. I told the clerk what happened with their luggage. Two of the clerks went into the back of the store and after a few minutes they came back with several options. They ended up with a couple of very good-looking suits. The total bill: $43.00. Of course only the immediate family knew what happened. We all laughed every time they received a compliment on their dashing look.

The one thing that none of us had realized is that the thrift store received donations from very wealthy residents

Oh Simone, that is quite a story!! Good for you. Often mothers do know best don't they? But how frustrated you all must have been but thankfully they looked proper and handsome for their cousins wedding. And their new suits (never worn) are now experienced travellers! Best wishes to you.

Rex brings up a good point; I think there is always someone who is willing to assist with placing or retreiving a bag from the overheads. I always assist, I'm tall, and given the crush loading and unloading, there is always time. Besides, after a nine hour flight, I'm usually acquainted with those around me.

I know you've decided to check it - but just re the problem of lifting your bag into the overhead: I am very short and while my bag is never more than about 25 lbs and easy to lift, on many jumbo planes the overheads - especially in the center - are too high for me to reach. I always try to get an aisle seat and when I get there I stand on the seat and can easily reach the over head. Do it all the time. But trust me -- the minute I step up there about 5 men and sometimes tall women rush to assist me. Their help usually isn't needed but it is always there if required. It has never been a problem. But I would NEVER ask some one to lift my bag if it was crammed full and weighed 40 lbs. That's just asking for trouble.

I'm not quite 5'2 and usually try to do carry-on only. I take the largest rollaboard allowed which I store in the overhead and also have another carry-on that fits under the seat. I have everything I'll want during the flight in the smaller bag and don't have to get to the larger one. Someone always helps me.

Hearing more details, I'm changing my vote! With a 40 lb. baggage allowance and only a 5 day trip... I could easily pack carry-on only. Depending the empty-weight of your bag, it should easily come in ~20-25 lbs. packed. While still a pain to drag around airports and on and off the plane IMO, I'd probably go for it (carry-on). I didn't know at the start of the discussion this was only a five day trip.

Darn it, you guys, now I'm leaning toward carry-on! LOL I think I would feel more "secure" knowing my stuff is with me. I guess I will try that--the worst that happen is that they make me check it after all. Maybe needing help with the bag will help me get to know my fellow passagers--I tend to be rather shy. Plus, more incentive to pack light and leave more room for souvenirs!

Thanks to everyone for their perspectives!

I do the same as Janis - the old stand on the arm rest trick - I am a solo traveler and always carry on. I have even done it on Virgin with the low weight allowance. Usually someone will help you if you are really struggling. I try to buy very light-weight rolling bags - not more than 8 pounds.
Mara

I've traveled solo for two of the last three trips to Europe this past year. I used a rolling carry-on for all three trips plus the one personal item, a "teardrop" shaped over the shoulder bag into which I tuck my purse during the plane trip.

I checked nothing until this past trip, on which I brought a carry on sized duffle to carry home purchases and checked the rolling carry-on, return trip only. I agree about not schlepping bags around the airport, but I'd rather schlep there than in and around cities, train stations, etc. But that's personal preference.

BTW--I weighed my bag last night, and on my digital bathroom scale, it's only 6.5 lb! Pretty good for a 22-in, eh?

Yes, that's great & about as good (light) as you can get in a suitcase with frame, wheels, popup handle. I can't image why you'd need more than about 20 lbs. total for a 5 day trip. Why not pack with the intension of carrying it on? The only drawback is remember about restrictions on sharp items (nail clippers, swiss army knife etc. which always are in my checked suitcase).

Suze--I checked on this because I want to take a corkscrew, and the only common things that are banned from carry-on now are pointy-ended scissors, anything with a blade (swiss army knife, etc.), and lighters. Nail clippers and corkscrews are specifically listed as allowed items on the TSA website. I'm going to print it out and take it with me in case they want to confiscate it! Of course, if they insist, I'll give it up and not argue, but I'm going to try to take it.

Good to know an update on that stuff, thank you. You could always wait and buy a corkscrew in Paris. Corkscrews are easy to come by & make fantastic souveniers... my current one at home says Switzerland in big letters down the side ;-)

I wasn't focusing on this being only a five day trip, either. In that case, I would try to do only carryon, and you should be able to, depending on the airlines' rules and size limits.

Of course the odds are very slim that it will get lost, but it can happen. Airlines deliver to your hotel, at least all the ones I've had do. Good point in that this doesn't work so well if you are immediately going somewhere else a long ways away. I think it is less likely to happen if it's nonstop, but it always can happen -- all the baggage people have to do is stick it in the wrong spot when they unload it, and it can be going somewhere else. I had that happen once, they put it in the baggage unloading section to go to another city. Luckily, it did not because of the tag, but it wasn't unloaded at the baggage carrousel with the others and took several hours to find.

I always stick a copy of my itinerary in a pocket of my baggage, but listing my name, home phone number, flights and hotel information by date doesn't take more than a small piece of paper.

I've been reading posts for a couple months now, in anticipation of a trip to Italy (only 11 days!) I have gotten so much info - and really enjoyed it. Now I find out that BA'a carry on limit is 13 pounds! That's amazing. Now you've saved me time and embarrassment of repacking in line to check-in. Thanks!!

Hi g33kgrl,
What brand bag do you have that is so light? I need a new 22" and weight is important since I always carry on due to too many delayed bags in the past--once for almost two weeks (got it back the day before my return--my husband's was also delayed and we had each packed some of our things in the other's bag in case...)
Anyone else have a really light weight 22"?

I have been to Paris numerous times with my daughter and the best way to travel is with carry-on luggage. I am going alone for a week at the very end of Sept. and plan to take my intrepid 22" roll-aboard and a small tote. Pack a folding carry-all bag for the trip home and check your larger suitcase. After all, who cares if the airlines lose your dirty clothes? It's your purchases that you want with you!